How to Dial In "The Greatest Show on Earth" by Nightwish - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "The Greatest Show on Earth"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015). Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the eighth studio album by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP E-II Eclipse through an Engl Powerball, the rig we use for Nightwish's other songs from Endless Forms Most Beautiful, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in D standard (D G C F A D), a whole step below standard.
Common Questions About the "The Greatest Show on Earth" Tone
What guitar did Nightwish use on "The Greatest Show on Earth"?
The guitar on "The Greatest Show on Earth" (released 2015) isn't documented; the ESP E-II Eclipse above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in D Standard (D G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "The Greatest Show on Earth" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 7, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 6.5, Presence 6, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "The Greatest Show on Earth" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "The Greatest Show on Earth" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "The Greatest Show on Earth" by Nightwish are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.